Panel hanging system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for simple and quick attachment and removal of a hanging panel to a panel holder. The apparatus comprises a panel holder and panel, interconnected on by a complimentary loop cache on one edge of each panel. The loop cache is an interlocking fastener that can be incorporated into the panel construction and may include hooks, loops, clips, clasps, zippers, or magnets. A tab lock that can facilitate engagement of complimentary loop cache surfaces on the panel to a panel holder. A tab lock holder incorporated into the panel holder and panel to function as a catchment for retaining the panel attached to the panel holder.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPPLICATION

Applicant claims the priority filing date of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 61/768196 filed on Feb. 22, 2013.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

Panels comprised of flexible or rigid material are used in a variety ofsettings where they are to be removed or exchanged at some future time.Examples where removable hanging panels are used include: shower andbathtub curtains; home decor; window treatments, and theatres. Panels,such as shower curtains and window treatments, are often hung from polesor rods using holes or loops in the panel.

Methods of hanging the panels include sliding the rod through each ofthe holes or loops in the panel or using rings through each hole andaround the rod. However, each of these methods require significanteffort to hang and remove the panel: with the earlier method, the rodmust be removed from its mounting hardware each time the panel isattached or removed: with the later method, every ring must be connectedand disconnected each time the panel is attached or removed. Thesemethods of hanging a panel make cleaning or exchanging panels aninconvenient and complicated procedure.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a panel system that canprovide the ability to simply and quickly attach and remove a hangingpanel. The solution is found in the present invention, which comprises apanel holder and panel joined together by a loop cache. When the panelholder is hung or attached to a rod, a panel can be simply and quicklyattached or removed using the loop cache

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a panel system that satisfies thisneed to facilitate simple and quick attachment and removal of a hangingpanel. The apparatus comprises a panel holder and panel, interconnectedon by a complimentary loop cache on one edge of each panel. The loopcache is an interlocking fastener that can be incorporated into thepanel construction and may include hooks, loops, clips, clasps, zippers,or magnets.

The panel holder can be attached to a wall or ceiling using hardwaretypically used for hanging shower liners or curtains. Once the panelholder is attached, a panel can be quickly attached or removed andexchanged for another panel. The panel is attached to the panel holderby the loop cache. The loop cache is composed of an elongated two-partfastener, with one complimentary mating surface on the panel holder andpanel mating edges.

Hanging panels that are simple and quick to attach and remove facilitatecleaning tasks by making them more efficient. Shower curtains could befrequently removed for cleaning, significantly improving sanitation andtime spend cleaning. When applied to curtain panels, the style andmaterials of window treatments could be changed with ease, allowing foreasy cleaning and the ability to alter decor as seasons and stylepreferences change. Used in theatre settings, backdrops could be quicklychanged between scenes.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of showercurtain system embodying features of the present invention for a panelhanging system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of windowcurtain system

FIG. 3 illustrates a front perspective view of two panels embodyingfeatures of the present invention for a panel hanging system.

FIG. 4A-B illustrates a top plan view of various loop cache fastenersembodying features of the present invention for a panel hanging system.

FIG. 5A-B illustrates a top plan view of various loop cache tab locksembodying features of the present invention for a panel hanging system.

FIG. 6A-B illustrates perspective views of an alternative loop cacheembodying features of the present invention for a panel hanging system.

FIG. 7A-B illustrates perspective views of an alternative loop cache tablock embodying features of the present invention for a panel hangingsystem.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top plan view of an alternative loop cache membraneembodying features of the present invention for a panel hanging system.

DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, a panel hanging system comprises a panel holder110 and at least one panel 130 joined together by a loop cache 120. Theloop cache 120 may further include a tab lock 124 to facilitate joiningthe two complimentary fastening surfaces of the loop cache 120. A tablock holder 116 may be incorporated into the tab lock 124 and loop cache120 to prevent disengagement of the loop cache 120 and detachment of thepanel 130 from the panel holder 110.

The panel holder 110, illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, provides a means forremovably attaching a hanging panel without the need to remove anyhardware normally used to hang a panel assembly. The panel holder 110 isshaped like a sheet with a top edge and bottom edge, and an outside andinside surface. The size of the Panel Holder 110 may vary depending onthe intended use, but is generally rectangular in shape. The PanelHolder 110 can be hung from a rod or pole like those typically used forhanging a shower or window curtain. Holes 112 through the panel, nearthe top edge, facilitate connection of the Panel Holder 110 to a rod orpole by passing the rod through the holes in the Liner Curtain Holder112. Holes 112 in the form of loops may also be formed on the LinerCurtain Holder 100 by folding and binding the panel over itself.Alternatively, rings 114 may be looped through the holes 112 and arounda rod to facilitate connection. The loop cache 120 is located along thelength of the bottom edge of the panel holder 110 and top edge of thepanel 130.

The panel holder 110 may be constructed of natural or syntheticmaterials typically used for shower or window curtains, such as cotton,linen, polyester, plastic, or vinyl. Referring to FIG. 3, in analternative embodiment, the bottom edge of the panel holder 110 maysplit to form two layers with two loop caches 120 for the attachment oftwo panels 130. Having an attachment place for more than one panel 130allows for a waterproof and decorative liner to be used for a shower orseveral layers of curtain panels to be used as window treatments.

The panel 130, illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, is typical of panels used forshower curtains, liners, or window curtains with a generally square orrectangular shape and having a horizontal top edge, a horizontal bottomedge and two vertical side edges. The panel 130, may function to retainwater with in a shower or bathtub as shown in FIG. 1, prevent light fromentering a window as shown in FIG. 2, or as a decorative embellishmentto windows. The panel 130 can be composed of a manmade or syntheticmaterials typically used for the aforementioned panel 130 functions, andmay be flexible or rigid.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6A-B, the panel 130 may comprise a rod 132along its top edge. The rod 132 functions to retain the shape of thepanel 130 and to facilitate connection of the panel 130 to the panelholder 110 by incorporating the loop cache 120. The rod 130 may be madefrom any material that is semi-rigid or rigid, and can be formed fromthe same material as the panel 130 but as a thicker section.

The loop cache 120, best illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, 4A-4B and 6, joinsthe panel 130 with the panel holder 110 by incorporating a series ofcomplimentary interlocking loops, clips, clasps, zippers, magnets. Thecomplimentary interlocking loop cache 120 surfaces are capable of beingremovably attached to each other. The bottom edge of the panel holder110 and top edge of the panel 130 each comprise one of the complimentaryloop cache 120 surfaces. Alternatively, the loop cache 120 mayincorporate a hook and loop fastener or adhesive membrane. In analternate embodiment, the loop cache 120 may comprise an elongatedtrough with protrusions 133 along its length so that when the rod 132 onthe liner 130 is pressed into the loop cache 120, by hand or using a tablock 124, the two will become attached to each other.

The tab lock 124, best illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5 and 7, functionsas a closure mechanism to join the loop caches 120 of the panel holder110 with the liner 130. The tab lock 124 can slide across the width ofthe panels like the pull-tab of a zipper, compressing and joining thecomplimentary loop cache 120 surfaces together. A tab lock holder 116,as best illustrated in FIGS. 5A-B, functions as a catchment incorporatedinto the panel holder 110 and tab lock 124 where the loop cache 120closure mechanism remains after attachment of the panel 130. The tablock holder 116 prevents detachment of the loop cache 120 from the panelholder 110 by locking the loop cache closure in place. The catchment mayutilize fastening methods such as a snap, tab, hook, loop, string, orhook and loop fastener.

To use the panel hanging system illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, the panelholder 110 is first affixed to a ceiling or wall using the holes 112 andoptionally rings 114 in conjunction with a rod or pole. Once the panelholder 110 is attached, a panel can be hung from it by positivelyengaging the complimentary surface of the loop cache 120 together.Optionally, the tab lock 124 can be used to facilitate joining the loopcache 120 surfaces together by engaging the ends of the loop cache 120together and then sliding the tab lock 124 across the panel holder 110.Next, the tab lock holder 116 of the tab lock 124 can be attached to thepanel holder 110. To remove the panel, simply detach the tab lock holder116 of the tab lock 124 from the panel holder 110, then slide the tablock 124 across the panel holder 110 and panel 130 so that the two arefree from each other. The panel 130 may now be exchanged for a differentone and reattached using the aforementioned procedure.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanyingclaim, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative featuresserving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specificfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of“step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, various modifications and substitutions may be madethereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has beendescribed by way of illustration and not limitation.

What is claimed:
 1. A panel holder system for removably attaching ahanging panel, said panel holder system comprising: at least one panelholder with at least one top edge and at least one bottom edge; at leastone panel with a top edge and bottom edge to be hung from the panelholder; a loop cache along at least one edge of the panel holder andpanel with complimentary interlocking surface; at least one tab lockthat can travel across the loop cache to positively engage thecomplimentary interlocking surfaces of the loop cache
 2. The panelholder system of claim 1, wherein the at least one panel holdercomprises one top edge and two bottom edges, the two bottom edges eachcomprising a loop cache for attachment of a panel on each of the twobottom edges.
 3. The panel holder system of claim 1, wherein the atleast one panel comprises a semi-rigid rod along a top edge to retainthe shape of the panel.
 4. The panel holder system of claim 3, whereinthe rod is formed from the same material as the panel.
 5. The panelholder system of claim 3, wherein the rod embodies interlockingfasteners of the loop cache.
 6. The panel holder system of claim 2,wherein the panel holder further comprises a tab lock, the tab lockbeing capable of sliding across the loop cache to positively engage thecomplimentary interlocking surfaces.
 7. The panel holder system of claim6, wherein the panel holder and tab lock further comprise a tab lockholder to prevent the tab lock from becoming disengaged from the panelholder.